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We, the undersigned, are fully supportive of workers in Iran who have been protesting to gain their unpaid wages. According to the Islamic regime's own statistics, 100,000 workers have not been paid for the past 3-30 months. The actual numbers are much higher. The last statistic reported by government officials placed the number at half a million. According to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, at least one million workers in Iran did not receive wages from two to 36 months in 2002. Labour protests for wages and other rights are ongoing, including via closure of roads, organising sit-ins, occupying factories and so on despite the fact that the right to strike is not recognised by the Islamic regime in Iran and workers face brutal suppression by the regime when they raise their legitimate demands. The situation has become so desperate that textile workers in Behshahr have begun a hunger strike since May 15, 2003 for 27 months of unpaid wages.

We, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the Islamic regime of Iran for its brutal suppression of workers protests and their rights and its outright irresponsibility towards workers' needs and demands. We demand the immediate and full payment of the Behshahr textile workers' wages as well as that of all other workers, full compensation and unemployment benefits as well as the recognition of the right to strike, organisation and collective bargaining and freedom of expression and association. The government is accountable for the workers' wages.

Name Signature Organisation/Union/Party (if any) Country E-mail

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